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Valentine's 2010, no. 48

For the Love of Sexual Values

This is the time of year when everyone - from chocolatiers to tax lawyers - cites some "sexpert" or random statistic to entice you to buy some gizmo to improve your sex life. This kind of hucksterism is one of the things we hate the most about the business we're in. Don Draper was right when he said it isn't sex that sells, but if sex is what you care about, it's unfortunate that you are forced to nagivate smoke and mirrors advertising and misinformation. At Come As You Are, we'll help you find your way by providing the most accurate and up-to-date information and quality products.

We wanted to share two more of our core values that seem particularly apt for Valentine's Day. We also want to hear from you. What do you think of our core values? Do they reflect your experience of our co-operative? How do they fit (or not) with your own? Send us an email (info@comeasyouare.com), give us a call (888-504-7934), or drop by the store.

Core Value #10: Working Harder to Make Sex Easier

When exploring sex is the goal, working hard is its own reward.

At Come As You Are we're always working to create a greater sense of comfort, to provide honest information and resources, and to meet everyone where they're at. It's our experience that sex doesn't come "naturally" to any of us. And we consider it our responsibility to do the hard work that makes it easier for you to explore.

We think being comfortable talking about sex isn't enough on its own, and we don't let the low expectations of our industry keep us from constantly working to improve our products, education, and customer service.

We know that the harder we work the better sex people can have, so it's easy for us to take pride and pleasure in going the extra mile.

Core Value #5: Be the Anti-Experts

We know enough about sex to know that we don't know it all.

Part of being a co-operative is being about something bigger than ourselves. In all our interactions (with customers, vendors, each other, and the communities we work with) we strive to keep our egos and personalities out of the equation.

We're not the cool self-ordained "sexperts" you'll find on talk TV or at some other sex shops. We do know a lot about sex, but the most important thing we know is that each of us is the real expert on our own desires. Every day we learn new things just by being open to the conversation, even when we don't agree on what is being said. We consider it our job to listen, learn, and be your guide through our products--not judge, diagnose, or condescend to you. To put it simply, we know it's not about what we think; it's about what you want.

Learn more about our co-operative values and CAYA culture on our website, www.comeasyouare.com.

Give sexy, Get Sexy!

When it comes to sex we’ve always believed the lines between giving and receiving are fuzzy at best. This Valentine’s Day we’re bringing that theory into reality by offering you something for yourself, just for giving something to someone else. Every order over $50 placed between January 20, 2010 and February 14, 2010 will receive FREE SHIPPING and a coupon for $10 off your next order. Give this month, and get back next month. Everyone wins.

Fourth Annual Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair

Last year over 1300 people, tired of giving the same old mass manufactured Valentine's Day gifts, crowded into the Gladstone Hotel for our Erotic Arts and Crafts Fair. So we're doing it again! One day only, February 13th, from 12pm to 8pm, the Gladstone Hotel on Queen St. W. becomes the mecca for the most crafty, cutesy and clever concotions on offer from our favorite erotic artists. A craft fair we dare you to compare, with handmade lingerie, erotic stationary, and one-of-a-kind photography, you're sure to find something original and whimsical to woo your loved ones. For more info and featured artists check out www.eroticartsandcrafts.com.

Midnight Mayhem

Head on down to our Toronto store or check us out online for our annual Midnight Mayhem sale. On Friday March 26th from 9pm – 12pm, the store will be hopping to the tunes of DJ Winnie, folks will be scrambling for our famous toonie bin deals and many more of your favourite items will be marked down, down, down!

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Toys

bSwish bCurious With so many great new rechargeable g-spot vibrators on the market, it is lovely to come across a really great sex toy that is just for external clitoral play! bSwish's bCurious vibe is designed exclusively for external use and its ergonomic form fits the contours of the body to provide vibration exactly where you want it. bCurous' small form fits easily in the palm, and features easy-to-use silicone push button control, multi-mode vibration and a fully waterproof exterior. | more Fuchsia | $85.00

bSwish bCute Curve Nothing could be more cute than bSwish's bCute Curve! With a new and improved stronger motor, bCute Curve provides a good amount of stimulation in a small package. Made of non-toxic, hypoallergenic silicone, bSwish has kept the bCute series of vibrators affordable without sacrificing the quality of materials. This is a great multi-speed vibrator for anyone just starting out in the world of sex toys, or folks who are seeking a smaller g-spot vibrator at a good price. | more Pink Purple | $24.00

Fleshlight Motion Top Dog The best DIY sex toy innovations often give rise to truly incredible sex toys and the Fleshlight Motion Top Dog has been no exception. After years of propping the Fleshlight up in pillows or wedging it between the mattress and boxspring to turn a brilliant hand-held masturbation sleeve into something a little more hands-free, Liberator has finally designed a piece of sex furniture to hold on to that Fleshlight for you. Compatible with all Fleshlights currently on the market, the Top Dog's faux leather exterior is easy to keep clean and the non-slip base helps ensure a better hands-free experience. The Liberator Fleshlight Motion Top Dog measures 14.5" x 12". | more Black | $115.00

Fun Factory Bloomy Celebrate self-love with this full-service silicone sex toy from Fun Factory. Bloomy is hypoallergenic, boilable and with proper cleaning, sharable, and perfect for prostate stimulation, and all sorts of other kinds of play. Use the ring to move and manipulate the toy, or add a vibrator for even more fun. Bloomy also provides great perineum stimulation and is great for folks of any gender. | more Black Rose | $50.00

Fuze Arrow Like Cupid's arrow, but better! The Fuze Arrow won't just make you fall in love, it can also bring a new level of intensity to that love! The Arrow has that classic slimline butt plug design, but a few subtle modifications improve on this design significantly. Not only are all Fuze plugs made of silicone, but their handy-dandy base ring can serve as a handle or can hold your favourite mini vibe (not included). The Arrow is the most slender of the Fuze plugs, and is great for beginners and anyone who favours a smaller anal toy. | more | $24.00

Fuze Quattro Anal beads or butt plug? The Fuze Quattro is a bit of both! A truly multi-functional anal toy, not only is The Fuze Quattro made of silicone, but the handy-dandy base ring can serve as a handle or can hold your favourite mini vibe (not included). Wear it like a plug, or pull them out during orgasm like beads - the choice is yours! If you like the Quattro, but are desiring something a bit bigger, take a look at the Fuze Triton. | more | $26.00

Fuze Sol It is a butt plug bonanza! The Fuze Sol will bring a little sunshine to where the sun don't shine and because it is made of hypoallergenic and boil-able silicone, with a little cleaning, you can even share the Sol with someone! As with all Fuze plugs, the handy-dandy base ring can serve as a handle or can hold your favourite mini vibe (not included). Packaged in re-useable metal tube that can be used for storage or recycled. | more Black | $26.00

Fuze Whirl With a great bulb-to-stem ratio for awesome stay-putted-ness, The Fuze Whirl is a silicone butt plug with a litte something extra! The Whirl features ridges through the toy's bulb for a more textured experience. Not only are all Fuze plugs made of hypoallergenic silicone, but their handy-dandy base ring can serve as a handle or can hold your favourite mini vibe (not included). The Fuze Whirl is a smaller version of the Fuze Halo.Comes complete with re-usable storage tube! | more | $28.00

Je Joue G-Ki Je Joue is one sex toy maker that manages to blow our collective minds with each and every sex toy they make. Je Joue's latest creation is the multi-speed, waterproof g-spot vibrator G-Ki. However, and like all of Je Joue's inventions to date, to call G-Ki vibrator is an massive understatement. The G-Ki vibrates, but it also bends two spots to ensure that you get to your g-spot, and it holds its position to keep the vibration where you want it! G-Ki is also rechargeable, but uses a magnetic charger to enable use and cleaning underwater. | more Purple Black Pink | $105.00

Lelo Mona The Lelo Mona has all of the power and style of the first generation of Lelo rechargeable vibrators, but Mona is also the first Lelo to feature an updated push-button controller for easier transitions between speeds and modes of vibration. If you love Mona, but are looking for a little extra-intensity, check out Lelo's Ina dual-function rechargeable vibrator. | more Purple Red | $130.00

Love Bumper Tilt Make sex hotter and more comfortable! Complementing the natural contours of the body, Love Bumper's Tilt can be positioned under the pelvis or under the head to increase the accessibility of a range of sex positions. Love Bumper's great designs also feature a machine washable cover and non-toxic/body safe materials. View Tilt sex positions on the Love Bumper website. | more Red Black Purple Grey | $90.00

Nexus G-Play 3 Pack Whether you're feeling indecisive or just want everything all at once, the Nexus Range's G-Play vibrator satisfies both impulses. The G-Play series is a silicone, multi-mode vibrator perfect for g-spot play or anal play. This three pack includes the Small, Medium and Large G-Play vibrators at a nice discount! This item is currently out of stock | more Black Pink | $90.00 , Reduced from $110.00

Nexus Max 5 We've always fought the tide against gendered sex toys, but in an industry that still makes 'women's' toys almost exclusively in pink, and inevitably packages 'men's' sex toys in black, we've often felt a bit alone in the struggle. While the folks at Nexus still use alternately pink or black packaging, we're impressed that they've designed an entire line of silicone vibrators that can be used by anyone, for almost anything! Nexus' new Max 5 is no exception - this sex toy has curves for every spot on the alphabet! With a multi-speed removable vibrator, Max 5 can be boiled between uses making it perfect for sharing too. | more Black Purple | $105.00

Saturn's Ring Fly to the moon and play among the stars! Life up on Saturn is pretty darn nice with this metro cock ring from Spartacus. For those who love the high-gloss and super stretch of a rubber ring, but don't love those unsexy off-gassing plasticizers, Saturn's ring is made of phthlate-free elastomer rubber. Featuring a thick, but stretchy ring with a wider opening than the classic Elastomer Ring. This item is currently out of stock | more Blue Purple | $18.00

Vibrating Leather Ring The classic leather penis ring has been around for a long time in various forms and has remained a popular choice due to the good looks and adjustable design. Now, with the addition of a one-touch bullet, the classic ring has been entirely transformed into a multi-functional sex toy. Not only can the waterproof One-Touch Bullet be removed and used on its own, but you can also add the ring to your favourite g-spot vibrator or dildo and to provide instant external vibration. For traditionalists, our Vibrating Leather Ring can be worn on the underside of the penis to provide stimulation to the wearer, or on top to stimulate your partner during penetration play. Snap closure allows for easy application and removal, as well as adjustment of size. This item is currently out of stock | more | $30.00

Books

Boy Crazy In Boy Crazy, a collection of writers offer up a heaping helping of erotica that is rife with fantasy and hot sex. From the eighteen year old that has always fantasized about having his roommate, to the well-seasoned sex pros, and even a story of pixies and fairies, their really is something for everyone. Very sexually charged and to-the-point, yet plot and characters are described in a way that is easy to visualize. Edited by Richard Labonte. | more | $19.95

Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings Clean Cartoonists' Dirty Drawings offers a peek into the erotic sketch books of big-time cartoonists and the work they don't usually publish. The artists behind Superman, Betty and Veronica, Charlie Brown and many more share sketches, drawings and comics of a sexual nature -- whether it be a classy pin-up or a crude and rude 'toon. Each artist has his own section including a short bio. Endlessly interesting and funny, this book contains hundreds upon hundreds of graphics. Great gift for the comic lover who is hard to please! | more | $26.95

Kama Sutra Oxford Classic The classic text of the Kama Sutra, straight up. This is the orginal ancient Hindu textbook of love that details the "instructions" on how to find a mate, what is acceptable behaviour for each partner, sex techniques and so much more. First translated in the nineteenth century, inaccurately, this is a new translation from 2002, and now we have an updated version for 2009. For those with an interest in the "marriage manuals" of the old days, it is also a great read for anyone interested in sex in history. This edition includes intro, commentaries, bibliography, explanatory notes, and a glossary and index. Vatsyayana, translated by Wendy Doniger and Sudhir Kakar | more | $15.95

Laid Shannon Boodram, a young Torontonian, has broken new ground with Laid, a book about "young people's experience of sex in an easy access culture". Each chapter includes Q & A's with the authors, and compiled stories, of sex -- good, bad, and ugly. In unflinching detail, with no sugar coating, this is an important collection for anyone thinking of having sex (whether it's your first or 101st time) and a major addition to the public discussion of sex and youth. Chapters deal with everything from love at first sight to date rape, pregnancy to STIs. A compelling and brave book. | more | $19.95

Mile High Club Secret sex sessions with strangers, flight attendants feeling frisky, and even pilots putting the moves on each other in the cockpit fill the pages of Mile High Club, a book full of erotica all about the thrill having sex while thousands of feet in the sky. Most stories have that extra shot of the adrenaline and excitement that comes from the possibility of getting caught in the act, or doing something you're "not supposed to do". Extremely well written yet easy to read, and easy to get wrapped up in. Edited by Rachel Kramer Bussel. | more | $19.95

Position Sex Bible Open up new possibilities in any relationship or get a bit cheeky with this personal notch-in-the-bedpost journal featuring 291 sex positions. The Position Sex Bible covers intercourse, oral sex, hand jobs and more, each with a full colour photo and step by step instruction. Informative and fun! This item is currently out of stock | more | $22.50

Sex by the Book When we discovered the theme of this book, we were immediately delighted and intrigued - gay male erotica focused on sex and books! Stories range from tales of sex in the library loo to chance encounters at bookshops and everything in between. Extra emphasis put on excellent writing that really get you wrapped up in the situations at hand. Edited by Kevin Bentley. | more | $19.50

Tasting Her At long last an entire erotic collection devoted to the magic that is going down on the woman that you love (or just lust after). Tasting Her is chock full of delicious stories of oral sex performed on women. Some are written from the perspective of cunnilingus virgins – first shy, but then quickly won over; others are tales of the pros who create elaborate games for themselves to intensify pleasure. Great for solo enjoyment and perfect for couple consumption too. | more | $19.50

Women's Anatomy of Arousal Women's Anatomy of Arousal is an uplifting and inspiring book that encourages holistic exploration and learning about a woman's body, both inside and out. Great for those who are just learning about themselves and how to achieve pleasure, to those who are ready to take the next step and dive ever deeper into the realms of female orgasm. Easy to read, but full of information, this book is thoroughly illustrated with erotic images from centuries ago, detailed illustrations of anatomy, and famous quotes, as well as hints for men who love women. It's hetero focused, but applies to all women, solo or in a relationship. | more | $21.95

Videos

Barcelona Sex Project DVD Meet 6 men and women who have volunteered to let you take a sneak peek into their personal and sexual lives. Spanish with English subtitles, Barcelona Sex Project is done in a series of interviews, after which each interviewee shows exactly how they have solo sex. With questions ranging from favourite food to favourite sex position and much, much more in between, we are treated to a great cross-section of the population, which really shows that no matter what your interests are in day-to-day life, we can all share a passion for sex. This item is currently out of stock | more | $35.00

Nostalgia DVD It's always exciting to find new, well done, indie porn films that are hot and sex positive. In Nostalgia, director Courtney Trouble "queers up the classics", spoofing such films as Deep Throat and the Devil in Miss Jones. Stellar cast with believable, real-life hot sex, and who wouldn't like a movie where people want to "squirt glitter" and eat more bacon? Hey, you gotta see it. | more | $29.00

The Expert Guide to Hand Jobs DVD Taking the reins from Tristan Taormino, the ever-adorable Penny Flame is here to teach you more than just the basics on how to give a hot hand job -- for guys and girls -- and reminds us that great sex isn't just about intercourse. The Expert Guide to Hands Jobs is presented in an inviting workshop-style atmosphere with explicit demonstrations to re-cap what we've learned. Throughout the video, a cute cartoon Penny is there to keep you on track with hints and tips. Learning is fun again! | more | $35.00

The New Romantix DVD More indie porn we love, the New Romantix gives you a glimpse into the real lives of some of the top alt porn stars today. Each scene begins with a short interview (learn about non-sex pastimes, get to know their personalities, and then watch them have smoking hot sex!) Shot in an artistic and dynamic way that works, this hipster porn is bright and inviting with just the right amount of hardcore fun and raw sexual expression. Never a dull moment, the seven-plus scenes in this film are sure to keep you tuned in and turned on. | more | $35.00